On 25 May, 1948, in Paris, France, Garry Davis (26), a
former Broadway actor and US. bomber pilot of World War II,
renounced his exclusive citizenship in and allegiance to the
United States of America.

At the same time, he publicly declared himself a "citizen
of the world."

From that moment on, Davis, legally "outside" the
nation-state represented the sovereignty of all human beings and
become an operative world-government-in-microcosm.

"frustrated war veteran," "impractical," "utopian." or simply
"crackpot." But thousands of others, shocked by the horrors of
two world wars between sovereign states and by the threat of a
nuclear holocaust, began to take legalized world citizenship
seriously. Many refugees, especially those in Europe, having
been daily harassed by the national bureaucracy, saw world
citizenship as their only hope for direct control over their
lives.

The French government ordered Davis out of France by 12
September. But with no passport, Davis was stuck...until the
United Nations General Assembly came to Paris on 7 September
and declared the Palais de Chaillot "international territory."

Davis again staked his claim 11 September by "leaving"
France and "entering" the UN's territory! With the UN as
backdrop, the World Citizen called for world law, asking the UN
to transform itself into a world government via a review
conference sanctioned by art. 109 of its Charter. At the same
time, he designed and issued the first World Citizen Identity
Card.

Letters of support by the thousands began to pour in. A new
transnational constituency began to be identified.

But the UN itself asked the French Government to rid it of
the troublesome idealist. He was expelled from UN territory by
French police on 17 September but not without worldwide
publicity.

The world citizen movement gained momentum when on 19
November, 1948, the former bomber pilot with friends interrupted
a session of the General assembly again publicly calling upon that body to declare and
transform itself into a democratic world government, thus
providing a stable base for peace and legitimizing world
citizenship. This time, UN security police expelled Davis
forcibly.

Delivered November 22, 1948 by World Citizen Garry Davis to the
General Assembly of the United Nations, Palais de Chaillot,
Place de Trocadero, Paris, France.

Mr. Chairman and Delegates:
I interrupt you in the name of the people of the world not
represnted here. Though my words may be unheeded, our common
need for world law and order can no longer be disregarded.

We, the people, want the peace which only a world
government can give.

The sovereign states you represent divide us and lead us
to the abyss of Total War.

I call upon you no longer to deceive us by this illusion
of political authority.

I call upon you to convene forthwith a World Constituent
Assembly to raise the standard around which all men can gather,
the standard of true peace, of One Government for One World.

And if you fail us in this...stand aside. for a People's
World Assembly will arise from our own ranks to create such a
government.

In 1949, Davis founded the International Registry of
World Citizens. Over 750,000 individuals in 150 countries
registered.

On 4 September, 1953, from the Town Hall of Ellsworth,
Maine, he declared the founding of the World Government of World
Citizens based on fundamental human right, calling for
recognition from both individuals and other governments.

For Davis, the act was neither frivolous nor utopian, but
entirely pragmatic and legitimate. The exercise of the right of
political choice was inalienable, he claimed, and even
sanctioned by the United States Constitution (9th amendment) and
article 15(2), Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Still
stateless, he had been imprisoned 16 times since 1948 for lack
of "valid" papers. Along with other stateless world citizens, he
needed a legal base with which to deal with national
bureaucrats.

Within months of the Ellsworth Declaration, Davis faced a
demand for World Government documents, identity cards, etc. from
stateless persons, refugees and world citizens that was larger
than any one person could handle.

To meet this demand, in January, 1954, he founded the World
Service Authority (WSA) in New York as the administrative organ
of the new government. Using the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights [Article 13, Section 2], as its mandate, the WSA began
issuance of World Government documents starting with the World Passport.

The World Government of World Citizens had passed beyond
being merely an idealistic concept incorporated by one human. It
has in fact become operational.

Today the WSA is a non-profit, global "city hall" for
individuals everywhere who are seeking to evolve the World
Government or are seeking assistance from it. WSA is currently
centered in Washington, D.C. with agents throughout the world. A
Tokyo office was opened in 1989 and is now located in Shanghai to service world citizens in the
"Pacific Rim" area. To date over 2,500,000 WSA passports, WG ID
cards and birth certificates have been issued. Over 150 countries have
recognized the passport on a de facto basis.